screensaver : Java Glossary

Animated wallpaper.
Screensavers were originally intended to prevent burning a fixed image into your
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor. Monochrome CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes)
were prone to burnout where the most commonly displayed image faded the screen
phosphors. Colour screens are less susceptible. Screensavers are artistic creations
that kick in after a period of inactivity to generate a moving display, thus evenly
exercising the screen phosphors. They have the secondary function of hiding your
screen contents when you are away from your desk. The downside is such programs can
take up considerable RAM (Random Access Memory) and
CPU (Central Processing Unit) and thus interfere with programs running in the
background.

Screensavers often come as *.scr files. Virus and trojan
writers favour them since people are generally aware they are just as dangerous as
*.exe files. You can always uninstall simply by deleting the
corresponding *.scr file.

I tried ScreenSavePlanet.com. It seems to be a
collection site for screensavers written by many different companies. It did not
have any annoying adware, though there were some screensavers in both free and pay
versions. The animated waterfalls is intriquing. That is what I am using
personally. There is also a talking fish screensaver, though it was incompatible
with my screen driver. Some are very elaborate where you get to move the scenery,
add fog and other effects.

Beware of screensavers.com.
They install a toolbar in Internet Explorer without your permission. They also have
some free screensavers that are not free, but they
don’t tell you up front. If they start asking for your name and email
address, it won’t be free.